RSS Feedhttp://10.40.239.129/blogs/rss-feed/Blog RSS Feeden{A7E4F412-6D55-492D-A16C-FC7A8BFBABF4}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/03/do-you-know-the-warning-signs-of-early-onset-alzheimers-disease/Do you know the warning signs of early-onset Alzheimer&#39;s disease? Plus, three simple ways to improve your cognitive abilityThat rapid decline of early-onset Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease is the focus of the movie <em><a href="https://youtu.be/ZrXrZ5iiR0o" title="Watch the movie trailer">Still Alice</a></em>, which was released earlier this year and based on the book by Lisa Genova. The film emotionally documents the steady decline of Dr. Alice Howland, a university professor and mother of three (who&rsquo;s played by Julianne Moore), and the effect early Alzheimer&rsquo;s has on her family. Moore recently earned an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film.<br />
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&ldquo;The personal costs of early-onset Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease are much higher than typical Alzheimer&rsquo;s because the disease comes when the patient is still in the prime of life,&rdquo; said Kelly Garrett, PhD, a neuropsychologist for the Intermountain Neurosciences Institute, based at the Salt Lake Clinic. &ldquo;The patients are usually still working and may have children at home. Very quickly after diagnosis, patients will need someone to care for them.&rdquo;<br />
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&ldquo;Thankfully, early-onset Alzheimer&rsquo;s is actually quite rare,&rdquo; Garrett said. &ldquo;It only accounts for about 5-10 percent of all Alzheimer&rsquo;s cases. Most people don&rsquo;t need to worry about it.&rdquo;<br />
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<h3>Early warning signs of Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease include:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Difficulty recalling newly learned information (short-term memory loss)</li>
<li>Forgetting appointments</li>
<li>Easily distracted</li>
<li>Trouble with word recall or language comprehension</li>
</ul>
<p>
&ldquo;For most of us, forgetting things is just a normal part of aging,&rdquo; Garrett said. &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t need to worry about Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease just because you forgot where you parked your car unless it happens all the time. But if you&rsquo;re consistently forgetting things, I&rsquo;d recommend that you contact your doctor.&rdquo;</p>
<p> There are many potential causes of Alzheimer&rsquo;s-like symptoms, including brain injuries, stroke, heart disease, severe infections, sleep apnea, vitamin B12 deficiencies, and diabetes. So while Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease has no known cure, many of the other dementia-causing conditions can be treated. Plus there are some medications and treatments that have had some success in slowing the progression of Alzheimer&rsquo;s if they&rsquo;re administered early. That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s important to see a doctor soon if you&rsquo;ve noticed signs of memory disorders.
</p>
<h3>What can you do to lower your risk of dementia and improve your cognitive abilities? </h3>
<p>Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease is sometimes a result of genetics and other non-preventable causes, but there are three important things you can do to reduce your risk or delay cognitive loss:</p>
<ol>
<li> <strong>Physical activity.</strong> &ldquo;If you could only do one thing to improve your cognitive performance, it would be exercise. Older adults who exercise reduce their risk of dementia by half,&rdquo; Garrett said. &ldquo;And it doesn&rsquo;t have to be a lot of exercise &mdash; 20 minutes a day, three days per week, is effective.&rdquo;</li>
<li><strong>Mental engagement.</strong> &ldquo;Although doctors aren&rsquo;t completely sure of its effectiveness, frequently doing things that challenge the brain seems to help improve cognitive abilities,&rdquo; Garrett said. &ldquo;The activity must be intense, challenging, and enjoyable. For example, some people enjoy doing crossword puzzles. But if you don&rsquo;t like crossword puzzles, try something else. A neuropsychologist can help you find the right brain activities for you.&rdquo;</li>
<li><strong>Social engagement.</strong> &ldquo;Often people will retire from their job and then just sit at home instead of going out and interacting with other people. Those who frequently interact socially with others usually have less cognitive decline,&rdquo; Garrett says.</li>
</ol>
<p>
People interested in learning more about Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease or who want to make an appointment with a memory disorder specialist can contact the Intermountain Neurosciences Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray by calling <strong>(801) 507-9800</strong>. </p>Mon, 30 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0600{CF94C4FA-7365-4733-A12A-3662EB3F2B80}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/03/how-to-be-successful-at-exclusive-breastfeeding/How to be Successful at Exclusive Breastfeeding<p>Here are some breastfeeding tips for before you go to the hospital, while you are there, and for when you are back home.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Prior to the baby being born-become well informed.</span></strong></p>
<p>
<ul>
<li>Read recommended books or go online to learn more about breastfeeding. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Take a prenatal class-this will help you understand the benefits of breastfeeding, how the breast works and the basic principles of milk production.</li>
<li>Get the support of your partner-include him in classes and information that you read.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Don&rsquo;t let others affect your decision to breastfeed.&nbsp; Remember that what one women&rsquo;s experiences are with breastfeeding, especially if they are negative, doesn&rsquo;t necessarily mean that is the way it will be for you.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Have a written plan that includes your desire to exclusively breastfeed.</li>
<li>Think ahead and get prepared.&nbsp; Research different breast pumps.&nbsp; Call your insurance company and find out what<em>&ldquo;personal use&rdquo;</em>&nbsp;breast pump that they will provide and process on how to obtain one.&nbsp; Research different bra&rsquo;s, creams, etc. prior to coming to the hospital.</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">While you are at the hospital</span></strong></p>
<p>
<ul>
<li>Request immediate skin to skin after you deliver prior to bathing, assessments, medications etc.&nbsp; Vital signs and assessments can be done while doing skin to skin. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Room in with your baby as much as possible.&nbsp; Request test such as lab work and hearing screening test to be done in your room with you. Some medical test/procedures have to be done in the nursery such as circumcisions and x-rays, however, mom and dad can accompany baby if needed.</li>
<li>Reinforce decision to exclusively breastfeed and not to give bottles of formula or pacifiers unless medically indicated (and after your permission) to the nurses caring for you.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Remember if you need help, please ask.&nbsp; If desired, you can request a lactation consultant if needed.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">After you are discharged</span></strong></p>
<p>
<ul>
<li>Plan on spending a lot of time resting, holding your baby skin to skin, and breastfeeding in the early weeks.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Refer to the Breastfeeding booklet in the&nbsp;<em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Baby and You</span></em>&nbsp;folder for management of common breastfeeding concerns. &nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Monitor the baby&rsquo;s feedings and both the number of wet and messy diapers the baby has in a 24 hour day.&nbsp; Take this information with you to the Lactation Consultant if you go, or to the physician&rsquo;s office.&nbsp; These are clear indication to determine if breastfeeding is going ok.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Plan to see the baby&rsquo;s doctor per his recommendations or sooner if needed.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Have an IBCLC certified Lactation Consultant&rsquo;s number available.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>Reference:&nbsp; Intermountain Healthcare fact sheet:&nbsp; &ldquo;<em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Breastfeeding:&nbsp; Tips for Before, During, and After Your Hospital Stay</span></em>&rdquo;, 2014.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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</div>Mon, 30 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0600{2A1D6D59-E2C7-4FCD-AA8D-678521662EBA}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/03/know-what-the-breast-cancer-gene-means-to-you/Know What the Breast Cancer Gene Means to You<p>One in 400 women have a mutation&nbsp;in the BRCA gene, which is linked to both ovarian and breast cancer.&nbsp;The BRCA-1 gene, which Ms. Jolie carries, increases the risk of breast cancer to an estimated 87 percent. The risk of ovarian cancer increases to 50 percent.</p>
<p>The more answers a woman has about her risk of breast cancer, the better able she will be to make an informed decision about her care. Here are a few questions you may have about BRCA mutations and cancer.</p>
<p><strong>What is a BRCA1 Mutation?</strong></p>
<p>According to the National Cancer Institute, the BRCA gene produces suppressor proteins, which help repair DNA. When the gene becomes mutated, it&rsquo;s not able to repair damaged DNA, resulting in genetic alterations that can lead to cancer.</p>
<p><strong>Who should get genetic testing to detect a BRCA mutation?</strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;Any woman who has a family history of breast or ovarian cancer is at higher risk for carrying the BRCA mutation,&rdquo; said Brett Parkinson, MD, imaging director of Intermountain Medical Center&rsquo;s Janice Beesley Hartvigsen Breast Care Center.</p>
<p>This is especially true of women who have a first-degree relative&mdash;mother sister or daughter&mdash;who has had either disease. Especially concerning is a family history of one or more first-degree relatives with premenopausal breast cancer, a close male relative with breast cancer, or multiple relatives with either breast or ovarian cancer.&nbsp;&ldquo;Women in that category should consider genetics counseling,&rdquo; suggests Parkinson.</p>
<p><strong>What happens if you are diagnosed with the gene mutation?</strong></p>
<p>A positive test means you are at greater risk for developing breast or ovarian cancer in your lifetime. But there are ways to manage your risk.</p>
<p>&ldquo;One of the first proactive steps a woman can take is to schedule breast cancer screenings more appropriately,&rdquo; said Dr. Parkinson. &ldquo;This may include starting yearly screening mammograms at an earlier age, because the earlier breast cancer is detected, the more successfully it can be treated.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Women who test positive for the BRCA gene should also undergo yearly MRI exams, as well as screening mammography.&nbsp;Of course, all women&mdash;even those of average risk&mdash;should begin annual screening mammography at age 40.</p>
<p>Another option may be similar to what Angelina Jolie chose to do &ndash; have the breast tissue removed from both breasts (known as a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy) and/or have the ovaries and fallopian tubes (known as a bilateral prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy) removed as well. &nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Although we can effectively screen for breast cancer, and can find it in its earliest, most treatable stage, we have no effective screening test for ovarian cancer,&rdquo; said Dr. Parkinson. &ldquo;After a woman with the BRCA mutation is done childbearing, and before the age of forty, she should strongly consider bilateral oophorectomy.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;There is no right or wrong decision,&rdquo; said Dr Parkinson. &ldquo;The decision is up to the woman, and the more information she has about risks and treatment options, the more equipped she will be to make the right decision for her and her family.&rdquo;</p>Sat, 28 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0600{DDBC3419-B7DA-434C-8744-28E29E6F2024}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/03/four-ways-you-sabotaging-your-salad-and-how-to-fix-it/Four ways you&#39;re sabotaging your salad and how to fix it<p class="p1"><strong>Problem: The wrong salad dressing.</strong> Creamy salad dressings like blue cheese, ranch, Caesar, and thousand island&nbsp; are high in fat, especially saturated fat, and calories. Too much is not only bad for your heart, but&nbsp; for your waistline.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Solution: Choose an oil based dressing, like a light vinaigrette</strong>. You can make your own with oil and vinegar and your favorite herbs and spices. Some of my favorite light dressing brands to recommend are Newman&rsquo;s Own and Bolthouse Farms because they're low in fat and calories, but still have great taste.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Problem: Too much salad dressing</strong>. Most people like their veggies COATED with dressing. Even when we choose a healthier salad dressing, too much dressing will always mean too much fat and calories.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Solution: Always get your dressing on the side.</strong> Even if you plan to drizzle your dressing on top, when you start with it on the side, you control how much dressing you use. You can try the dab and stick method, where you take your dressing on the side, dab in your fork, and then stick it in your lettuce. Another thing you can do to add lower levels of calories and fat to your salad is add moisture before adding your dressing &mdash; use salsa or pico de gallo, vinegar, or the juice from a lemon or lime.&nbsp; You get a ton of flavor without a lot of calories and sodium and you're able to use less dressing.</p>
<p class="p1">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Problem: Too many high-calorie toppings</strong>. They include fried wontons, tortilla strips, croutons, bacon bits, sunflower seeds, candied nuts, cheese and avocados. Not all of these foods are unhealthy per se (some are great for your health!), but we need to take all of them in small doses.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Solution: </strong><strong>Use smaller portions</strong>. Always ask for toppings on the side, or take some off the top right when you get your salad. If you like crunch, use gold fish or a whole wheat cracker instead of croutons. Use sun-dried tomatoes instead of bacon bits and try to use only one or two tablespoons of other toppings (or the size of about two poker chips). Don&rsquo;t get me wrong, avocados are awesome &mdash; but an entire avocado has about 40 grams of fat, which is more than half of the recommended fat the average person needs in a day!</p>
<p class="p1">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Problem: Too much meat, especially high-fat meats</strong>. Think crispy chicken salad or a loaded chef salad. While protein, especially lean meat, is healthy, too much is too much. Extra protein, especially if it's deep-fried adds extra fat and calories and can add a lot of sodium.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Solution: Choose less meat</strong>. Remember: You're having a salad, not a sandwich! Try to limit your portions to about 3 oz, or the size of a deck of cards, and consider choosing a hard-boiled egg or egg whites. Incorporate more plant-based proteins like beans, tofu or edamame and always choose a grilled protein, like grilled chicken or fish.&nbsp;</p>Fri, 27 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0600{2628C33D-B17D-4ABF-A336-0900316C9064}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/03/understanding-normal-newborn-behaviors-and-breastfeeding-patterns/Understanding Normal Newborn Behaviors and Breastfeeding Patterns<p>As a new parent to be, you imagine and hope for the perfect &ldquo;Gerber&rdquo; baby, right?&nbsp; Your baby will eat for 10-15 minutes every 3-4 hours, will sleep through the night by the time he is a week old, and will only cry a little when&nbsp; getting his diaper changed.&nbsp; You envision lots of beautiful hair, no rashes or birthmarks, and you are certain he/she will be the cutest baby ever born.&nbsp; Well&hellip;. as far as the eating, sleeping, and crying go, you may find the information below to be very helpful.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>If you are prepared for and know ahead of time about normal newborn behaviors and breastfeeding patterns, you will know that there is nothing wrong with your newborn and will be less inclined to believe it is all related to a hunger issue and that &ldquo;formula&rdquo; will fix it all.</p>
<p>This first 24 hours is when we see this &ldquo;GOOD&rdquo; baby.&nbsp; He will eat, sleep, and cry a little, but then after 1-3 days, reality sets in and babies will want to eat more. They cry more and are more aware of their environment. Moms are stunned at the difference in a baby&rsquo;s behavior and feel that they are doing something wrong, that they aren&rsquo;t feeding their babies enough, or that all this crying and fussiness is related to you not having enough milk.&nbsp; However, this is not the case.&nbsp; It is normal for babies to feed frequently.&nbsp; It is normal for babies to go through these changes.&nbsp; It will not last.&nbsp; Patience and understanding is key.&nbsp; Also important are monitoring and knowing the recommended guidelines for the number of breast feedings and counting the number of wet diapers and messy diapers in the first couple of weeks.</p>
<p>Baby&rsquo;s newborn behavior will fluctuate between different &ldquo;sleep and awake infant states,&rdquo; in the first 24 hours or so.&nbsp; &ldquo;These infant states influence the way an infant will respond at any given time,&rdquo; (1) and they will help you as a new mother to understand and respond better to his needs.&nbsp; For example, in the quiet sleep state, a baby can and will generally sleep through any kind of noise, such as vacuuming, for example.&nbsp; This may not be the best time to try and feed him.&nbsp; Alternately, if your baby is in the awake infant state and drowsy, you might be able to awake him enough to feed.&nbsp; The quiet alert state is the best time to offer a feeding since he/she is more attentive to the environment.&nbsp; This is why it is encouraged to do feedings within the first 30-60 minutes after delivery.&nbsp; Crying is an infant state but this is also the newborn&rsquo;s form of communication and a signal that something must change.&nbsp; It isn&rsquo;t always related to hunger, but if he is hungry, it is a late sign and babies will generally have a more difficult time latching on and will need to be calmed down prior to an attempt to breastfeed.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>Sleeping behaviors will also be a little different than anticipated.&nbsp; Here are some general guidelines:&nbsp; </p>
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<p>2-6 Weeks</p>
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<p>Able to sleep <strong>2-4 hours</strong> at a time</p>
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<p>6-8 Weeks</p>
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<p>Sleep becomes more concentrated during the nighttime.&nbsp; Baby more awake during the day.</p>
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<p>3 months</p>
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<p>Able to sleep <strong>up to 4 hours</strong> at one time-typically with the longest stretch at nighttime.</p>
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<p>6 months</p>
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<p>Able to sleep <strong>up to 6 hours</strong> at one time. </p>
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<p>(1)</p>
<p>Knowledge of newborn behaviors and breastfeeding patterns will prepare you for that sweet, cuddly, perfect baby that you pictured in your mind.&nbsp; </p>
References:&nbsp; Lactation Seminar given by Wendy Wright, MBA, IBCLC, RLC.&nbsp; &ldquo;<em>Breastfeeding:&nbsp; New Strategies for Improved Outcomes</em>&rdquo;.&nbsp; Lactation seminar sponsored by:&nbsp; PESI HealthCare.Fri, 27 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0600{55D3E2AD-CE2D-4DCF-9F7F-6C330EBB56E3}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/03/theres-more-than-one-reason-to-visit-labor-and-delivery/There&#39;s More Than One Reason to Visit Labor and DeliveryThe first thing I do when I walk into a patient's room <a>in the Labor and Delivery Department </a>is ask, "What brought you here today?" Some people look at me like I'm crazy because they think the only reason you'd come to the hospital is for contractions. In fact, there are many reasons a pregnant woman might visit Labor and Delivery, and here are four of them:
<p> </p>
<ol>
<li>You have contractions: Contractions are the most obvious reason. However, many women aren't sure when it's time to head to the hospital. If you are preterm, or less than 37 weeks, you should go to Labor and Delivery if you are having 4-5 contractions an hour, which is only every 10-15 minutes. You should also go if you're having other signs of preterm labor, such as constant or intermittent lower abdominal pain or lower back pain, any kind of&nbsp;<a></a><a>pressure</a>, leaking of fluid, bleeding, or increased vaginal discharge associated with pain.<br />
<br />
If you are full term, or over 37 weeks, it's time to go to Labor and Delivery once your contractions are 4-5 minutes apart. You increase your chances of staying at the hospital if your contractions have been going on at that rate for at least two hours.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Your water breaks: When this happens, it's not always obvious. You may or may not be contracting when it happens. A woman's water will break spontaneously 10 percent of the time, meaning that usually it has to be done for you in the hospital.<br />
<br />
When your water breaks, it will probably feel like you just peed your pants. This is totally normal! If you are at home and the fluid is clear, empty your bladder, put on a pad or a panty liner, and see what happens over the next 30 minutes. If you continue to leak, go to Labor and Delivery. If the fluid coming out is yellow-green, that means go right away...don't wait around to see what happens next.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li>You experience vaginal bleeding: If this happens, definitely come in to be evaluated. A Labor and Delivery nurse or doctor will check out you and your baby and will determine what needs to be done next.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>You feel decreased fetal movement: The Labor and Delivery team are huge believers in a mother's intuition. If you don't feel your baby move as much as usual, get rid of all distractions, lay down on your side, and count movements. If you get 10 or less in two hours or are just concerned after one hour, come in.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
No matter your reason for coming, the Labor and Delivery team is ready to help you feel at ease. If you ever feel concerned, a safe motto to follow is when in doubt, get checked out! There are no unwelcome questions, and it is very common for women to come in one or more times before they actually deliver.
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</div>Thu, 26 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0600{1CE6BFF4-6059-4425-96C0-A79906F18D17}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/03/how-can-you-beat-colorectal-cancer-regular-screening-is-the-key-that-could-save-your-life/How Can You Beat Colorectal Cancer? Regular Screening is Key to Saving Your Life<p class="p1">Larry Weber knew he should get a colonoscopy.</p>
<p class="p1">After all, he turned 60 last May, and the American Cancer Society recommends getting a colonoscopy when you turn 50.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">His wife Terry got her first colonoscopy at 51, and again in February of this year when she turned 56.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;I knew I had to get him in and he kept saying, &lsquo;After I retire.&rsquo; Well, he retired in August and it was time,&rdquo; she says.</p>
<p class="p1">It turned out Terry&rsquo;s good example (and gentle nagging) led to an early diagnosis for Larry.&nbsp;After Terry got her regularly scheduled colonoscopy with Christian Capener, MD, at Riverton Hospital, Larry went in for his first colonoscopy. Dr. Capener found the early stages of colon cancer and recommended that Larry get surgery.&nbsp;Terry put her own scheduled hip surgery on hold so Larry could get his cancer removed immediately.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;The hardest part was waiting a couple days for the lab to come back and let us know if it spread or if they got it all,&rdquo; says Larry.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">The surgery was a success and Larry is cancer-free. He doesn&rsquo;t have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation.&nbsp;Larry plans on enjoying a long retirement with Terry, their children, and their nine grandchildren. He now plans to get regular colonoscopies so he can make sure the cancer doesn&rsquo;t return. &ldquo;I plan to tell all my friends and family to get their colonoscopies,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It saved my life.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;Larry is a success story because colon cancer is preventable and treatable when it&rsquo;s detected early,&rdquo; says Dr. Capener.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>March is National colorectal cancer awareness month</strong></p>
<p class="p1">Here are some important facts on colorectal cancer:</p>
<ul>
<li>Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It affects men and women equally; everyone needs to be screened.</li>
<li>Colorectal cancer arises from pre-cancerous growths or polyps that grow in the colon. When they&rsquo;re detected early, polyps can be removed, which prevents them from progressing to colorectal cancer. While early detection of any cancer is important, PREVENTION is powerful.</li>
<li>Many people don&rsquo;t realize that colorectal cancer is highly preventable. And unlike other cancer screenings, which can only detect a problem, a colonoscopy can prevent colorectal cancer by removing precancerous polyps during the exam.</li>
<li>One in three adults &mdash; almost 23 million Americans between ages 50 and 75 &mdash; is not getting tested for colorectal cancer as recommended.</li>
<li>According to the American Cancer Society, the colon cancer death rate in this country could be cut in half if Americans simply followed recommended screening guidelines. Last year alone, more than 50,000 people died of colorectal cancer in the United States.</li>
<li>You should get your screening colonoscopy beginning at age 50, sooner if you have a family history of colon cancer.</li>
<li>Schedule your screening colonoscopy today.&nbsp;It could save your life!&nbsp;</li>
</ul>Wed, 25 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0600{388D274D-2755-4529-87E7-CE1C4E67D695}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/03/how-smart-watches-can-help-improve-your-health/How Smart Watches Can Help Improve Your HealthThe Apple Watch has garnered a considerable amount of attention in recent weeks, and has brought the spotlight back on the young wearables industry, but you may be wondering, &ldquo;What does a smart watch actually do?&rdquo; It&rsquo;s a worthwhile question, especially considering the hefty price tag of many smart watches.<br />
<br />
At the most basic level, smart watches are an extension of a smartphone &mdash; they receive notifications, answer phone calls from your wrist, allow you to use apps, and tell time. But the major advantage of a smart watch is you&rsquo;re almost always wearing it. This allows smart watch wearers to be connected in ways never before possible.<br />
<br />
This always-on feature has great implications for changing the lifestyles of watch owners, even their health. Here are nine ways smart watches could help improve your health:<br />
<br />
<strong>Steps Tracker. </strong>One of the easiest ways to improve your health and boost your activity level is to take 10,000 steps a day. Smart watches have built-in pedometers, which makes it easy to see the number of steps taken. While the degree of accuracy of these pedometers is questionable, the fact that you&rsquo;re moving to meet your steps goal is the more important thing.<br />
<br />
<strong>Sleep monitoring. </strong>The <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/features/dssleep/" target="_blank">Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports</a>&nbsp;more than a third of adults in the United States get fewer than 7 hours of sleep a night. A sustained lack of sleep can have long-term negative consequences for the body. Smart watches, when worn at night, can track sleep patterns. They can let you know how many hours of sleep you&rsquo;re getting and how many uninterrupted hours. While not a substitute for a professional sleep study, these sleep statistics can help you identify patterns and set goals to improve the quality and quantity of sleep.<br />
<br />
<strong>Goal Setting. </strong>Many smart watches have built-in apps with goal-setting abilities. For example, you can set a goal to take a certain number of steps, or sleep a certain number of hours, and the goal tracker will let you know how you&rsquo;re doing on your goal today and over time. This provides an incentive and reward for meeting your health goals.<br />
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<strong>Workout reminders. </strong>We all know we should workout, but so often the hardest part of working out is making it a habit. Setting workout reminders is a great way to turn a good goal into a great habit. The advantage to a reminder on a smart watch rather than on a smartphone is it&rsquo;s harder to dismiss. It&rsquo;s easy to miss a reminder notification if you don&rsquo;t have your phone on you, but a smart watch will vibrate on your wrist, letting you know it&rsquo;s time to hit the gym.<br />
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<strong>Timers and stopwatches. </strong>While this isn&rsquo;t necessarily a new feature to smart watches, having been available on digital watches for years, timers and stopwatches are incredibly useful for runners, swimmers and cyclists.<br />
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<strong>Fitness apps.</strong> Just like smartphones, smart watches can have apps. While limited in features, there are health and fitness apps available that can meet your individual health goals and needs.<br />
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<strong>Easier listening to jams while working out.</strong> You may have your favorite tunes on your smartphone, but it&rsquo;s often awkward to workout with a large phone. Many smart watches allow you to load a limited number of your favorite songs directly onto the watch, independent of the smartphone. Combined with Bluetooth headphones, this allows for greater convenience and comfort while working out. While music itself won&rsquo;t improve your health, it can provide motivation to workout.<br />
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<strong>Custom watch faces.</strong> One of the most popular features of smart watches is the ability to customize watch faces, allowing you to express your individuality. In addition to fun, colorful watch faces, many smart watches allow you to add health tracking features to the main watch face. Adding steps taken or goals to the watch face puts health front and center. The more you see it, the more you&rsquo;re reminded to take an active role in your health.<br />
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<strong>Data syncing for analysis.</strong> While smart watches have limited processing ability on their own, they are always connected to smartphones, which allows your collected health stats (sleep, steps, etc.) to be synced with your phone. On your phone you can use native apps like Apple Health or other third-party apps to analyze the data. This helps you understand your habits and progress and set future goals.<br />
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Smart watches are in their infancy, but already show great promise for the future. Health tracking has been included from the beginning, showing the focus of these companies and suggests future growth in this area.<br />
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For many people, a dedicated tracker like a Jawbone or a FitBit is the way to go, but by shelling out a little more money you can get many more health features with a smart watch.<br />
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Of course, even with the greatest features in the world, a smart watch still relies on one very important thing: you to make the most of it.<br />
<div><br />
</div>Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0600{385F0023-5D0E-4C5B-B0A1-CC9C10B931FA}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/03/how-meditation-can-help-you-better-manage-daily-stress/How Meditation Can Help You Better Manage Daily Stress<p class="p1">Life is stressful, and it&rsquo;s not getting any easier.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">That&rsquo;s one of the reasons that so many Americans are incorporating 20 minutes of meditation into their daily schedules.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;Meditation doesn&rsquo;t get rid of stress or the grief, but it helps individuals change their relationship to it,&rdquo; said Marc Potter, a licensed clinical social worker for Intermountain Healthcare. &ldquo;It gives you the ability and the strength to cope with the stress you deal with everyday, whether it&rsquo;s in the workplace or at home.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1">A lot of people get into meditation involuntarily, said Potter. Something drastic happens to them; they feel like they&rsquo;re hit with the final straw that breaks the camel&rsquo;s back.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what happened to me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I was at the height of my career, and I broke down. I went from helping mentally ill homeless addicts to becoming one. For those who come to me for help, they&rsquo;re stressed out of their minds. Meditation brings a deep sense of calm and self compassion.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>What is meditation?</strong></p>
<p class="p1">According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, a molecular biologist and meditation pioneer, mediation &mdash;which is also referred to as mindfulness &mdash; is the process of quieting the mind&rsquo;s constant chattering, including its thoughts, anxieties, and regrets.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>How do I meditate?</strong></p>
<p class="p1">The best way is to learn from a teacher; however, you can sit in a comfortable chair while focusing on your breathing. Pay careful attention to when your mind wonders. When you divert to another thought, don&rsquo;t judge yourself. Simply escort your attention back to your breath over and over again.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Do I have to be Buddhist to meditate?</strong></p>
<p class="p1">The answer is no. Though meditation is tied to Buddhism, the origins of meditation date back to 5,000 B.C. and can be found in most cultures throughout the world. You can be a wonderful Catholic, Mormon, Buddhist or atheist and still meditate. Everyone can benefit.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Speaking of benefits of meditation, what are they?</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>It alleviates stress -&nbsp;In addition to giving you time to relax, meditation affects the whole nervous system by reducing the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) the body produces.</li>
<li>It improves concentration - Once we learn to focus on our breath, recognize when our mind wanders, and return our focus to our breathing, we can use that skill in everything we do such as work, family time, and play.</li>
<li>It leads to better health - Researchers have linked meditation to decreasing your blood pressure, sleeping more peacefully, managing chronic pain, and even to extending your life.</li>
<li>It changes your brain - Research has proven that meditating impacts the brain as well. MRI scans show the amygdala shrinks after participating in a meditation course. As the amygdala shrinks, the pre-frontal cortex thickens.</li>
<li>It improves creativity - Blocks in creativity can have multiple causes, but whatever the cause, the result is usually because we get caught in a routine. Taking time to meditate allows us to unwind and reset allowing us to push through the blocks.</li>
</ol>
<p class="p1"><strong>So what&rsquo;s the moral of this story? What should you do now?</strong></p>
<p class="p1">Stop cruising the internet, step away from your computer, and take 20 minutes to meditate.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;One of the highlights throughout my career,&rdquo; said Marc, &rdquo;is when a few people have approached me and said &lsquo;meditation changed my life.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Need additional guidance?</strong></p>
<p class="p1">If you need some guidance, visit <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/eap/problem-solving/stress/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">intermountainhealthcare.org</a> and listen to CD #3<em> (scroll to the bottom of the page)</em>, which was created to help people in the workplace.</p>Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0600{547A0C46-1B74-48ED-B9F2-C86FC489BCEC}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/03/ems-and-intermountain-trauma-team-collaborate-to-save-lives/EMS and Intermountain Trauma Team Collaborate to Save LivesChase Tribe is a 29-year-old male who was involved in a life changing motor vehicle collision. When medics arrived on scene, they found Chase unresponsive and close to death. Because of the severity of his injuries Chase was not able to maintain his own airway. The medics tried a field intubation in order to ventilate his organs, however due to his injuries this was impossible. The decision was then made to perform a cricothyrotomy. This procedure requires much skill and is not performed commonly in the field. Chase was then brought to Intermountain Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with many injuries. His most significant injuries included a skull fracture, multiple facial fractures, subdural hematoma, and contusions of the brain. Chase spent months in the hospital, had many surgeries, and at times was close to death. <br><br>
“It is a miracle that Chase is alive,” said Chase’s mother. “Everybody that cared for him did everything right to save him.”<br><br>
Brad Morris, a Trauma APC at Intermountain Medical Center, presented this case review to the medics who saved Chase’s life. Brad gave them an in depth discussion and education about Chase’s hospital treatment. <br><br>
Chase and his family were contacted about the case review and were invited to attend. They were excited for the opportunity to express their gratitude. Chase’s mom tearfully conveyed her appreciation to the medics by saying, “You didn’t have to do what you did. You saved his life.”<br><br>
We as a trauma service are honored to work and collaborate with all the disciplines involved in caring for our trauma patients. And as for Chase, he is on the road to recovery with is family by his side. <br><br>
Chase’s dad pointed out that Chase has a sense of humor about his accident and can be heard trying to negotiate deals with his parents — while simultaneously leveraging his traumatic brain injury (TBI). For example, he recently said, “Dad will you get me a puppy? Please, I have a TBI.”
Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0600